Saint-Charles-Borromée, Quebec, a city nestled in southwest-central Quebec, Canada, is a charming destination on the l'Assomption River. With a population of 15,285 (as of 2021), this city in the Joliette Regional County Municipality is a treasure trove of history, culture, and natural beauty.
The city is home to the Maison Antoine-Lacombe, a heritage home that hosts numerous exhibits throughout the year. The Centre Saint-Jean-Bosco, another cultural hub, annually hosts the Mémoires et Racines Festival, a celebration of folk music from various countries and Quebec. The city's name originates from its original Roman Catholic parish, Saint-Charles-Borromée, established in 1683. The parish is named after Charles Borromeo, an Italian Roman Catholic prelate, who founded the Oblates order and was canonised in the Roman Catholic calendar.
In 1832, Barthélemy Joliette built a sawmill and a flour mill on the banks of the l'Assomption River, attracting pioneers from Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Saint-Paul, and Sainte-Mélanie. The parish Saint-Charles-Borromée was founded in 1840, and its canonical establishment occurred in 1843.
The parish municipality of Saint-Charles-Borromée-du-Village-d'Industrie was founded in 1845, separated from the rest of the town in 1864, and ceased to exist in 1847. The parish municipality of Saint-Charles-Borromée was created in 1855. Over the years, the city underwent several territorial changes, with parts of it separating and merging with other areas.
In 1986, the town became the municipality of Saint-Charles-Borromée, named after Barthélemy Joliette's wife, Marie-Charlotte Tarieu Taillant de Lanaudière, who significantly contributed to the construction of the local church.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Saint-Charles-Borromée had a population of 15,285 living in 6,850 of its 7,259 total private dwellings. This marked a 10.8% increase from its 2016 population of 13,791. With a land area of 18.48 km2 (7.14 sq mi), the city had a population density of 827.1/km2 (2,142.2/sq mi) in 2021.
The CTJM provides public bus services in the area from 6:20 to 22:10 on weekdays and from 7:50 to 18:35 on weekends. The city is covered by 51 bus stops, including 7 bus shelters, all connecting with Joliette's terminus on rue Fabre. The terminus will soon be relocated to a safer area on rue Saint-Louis, Joliette, in front of the courthouse.
The Health and Social Services Centre of Northern Lanaudiere (CSSSNL), also known as the CHRDL (Lanudiere Regional Hospital Center), is the regional hospital serving the northern part of Lanaudiere. It is located in the southern part of Saint-Charles-Borromée.
